89i 
THE PISHING GAZETTE 
[May 27, 1893 
TROUT FISHING NEAR CRIEFF. 
Dear Sir —Will any of your correspondents 
kindly pive me some information respecting the 
trout-fishing (if any) near Crieff, Perthshire ? I 
am taking a holiday in July or August, and, being 
a fisherman, although not a fly-fisherman, I would 
like to try my skill. If you will kindly inform 
me the bait required and the mode of procedure 
to catch them I shall take it as a great favour. 
Likewise, is there any coarse fishing, and, if so, is 
it open or by payment ? Thanking you in antici¬ 
pation. _ E- E. 
INCIDENT IN SALMON FISHING. 
Sir, —The following account of the capture of 
a salmon may interest your readers :— 
During last season I booked a salmon of 161b, 
in a wide and deep pool on the Dart, and after a 
long and severe struggle it began to give in, and 
I was slowly bringing it nearer to the bank on 
which I was standing, when I became aware of 
the presence of another salmon circling round it, 
then darting away and returning again. The 
water just beneath me was about 6ft. deep, and 
at length I was able to draw the captive fish in 
just beneath me, but it required a heavy strain 
on my rod to raise it upward from the bottom. 
When it was about 3ft. from the surface a 
remarkable thing occurred. The other salmon 
evidently thought things were becoming serious, 
and something must be done to check the 
eccentric movement of its friend and make it 
again sink, and, to my great surprise, came and 
placed itself across the back of the fish I was 
slowly raising. I could not resist the belief 
which took possession of me that the free fish 
was trying to weigh its sick friend down again. 
So persuaded was I of this, that fearing the 
further strain upon my line, I took off my cap 
and waved it over the water, thinking to frighten 
the fish away, but he took no notice of it, but lay 
in the same position, until I put the gaff into the 
water, when he moved off. If you put one finger 
over another at right angles, that was exactly 
the position of the two salmon. I should like 
much to hear from anyone well acquainted with 
their habits the explanation of this occurrence. I 
may mention that the attendant salmon was a 
smaller fish, which I guessed at about 101b.—I 
remain, sir, jours obediently, C. F. 
THE FISHING FOX TERRIER—SOME 
GOOD TAKES OF THAMES TROUT. 
Dear Mr. Marston, —Trout fishing one day 
last week at Molesey Weir, I noticed sitting, half 
in the water, on the shallows, a fox terrier. 
Wondering why he was indulging in a hip bath 
on rather a cold morning, I watched him and saw 
that he every now and then made a dart at the 
gudgeon, &c , that tried to run up to the broken 
water above. He seldom missed, and at once 
made for the bank, where he quickly decapitated 
the fish, ate the gills only, and at once resumed 
his watching attitude. On examination I found 
about a dozen small fish on the bank—mostly 
gudgeon—all with their heads off and the gills 
devoured. 
Thinking this rather a peculiar instance of a 
dog fishing, I thought I would let you know.— 
With kind regards, I am, yours very truly, 
Durwaed Lely. 
Ascham House, Surbiton, Surrey. 
P.S.—1 have been doing fairly well among the 
Thames trout lately, considering the weather and 
state of the water, I notice in the Fishing 
Gazette that the reports have not been quite accu¬ 
rate, so 1 venture to send you a full, true, and 
particular account of my doings at the weirs. 
Last Friday at Sunbury Weir, I killed a beautiful 
brace of trout, 4|lb and 51b., and the following 
morning at Molesey Weir I got another (a magni¬ 
ficent fish) of 71b. This makes my sixth this 
season, the respective weights being 3|lb., 41b., 
41b., 4ilb., 51b., and 71b. I understand that some 
time during last winter (when I was in America) 
a society was formed or something was done to¬ 
wards stocking the Lower Thames with trout, and 
subscriptions were invited. Will you kindly in¬ 
form me if this is so, as I should be very de¬ 
lighted to become a subscriber? From the 
numbers of small trout that have been taken (and 
returned) and seen, I think the Thames bids fair 
to become in the very near future a magnificent 
trout river. 
LARGE SALMON. 
Sir, —We have written the Times in reference 
to Mr. Henry FfennelTs letter—as to salmon dis¬ 
played in i\Ir. Groves’ shop. Bond-street—on 
Saturday, May 13 : “ We beg to inform you we 
are the senders of the same. This salmon weighed 
601b., and was captured in the Shannon, and was 
forwarded to London on the evening of the day it 
was captured. Its length was fifty-two inches, 
and thirty-two in girth. We have had in oiir 
possession several heavy salmon captured this 
year in the Shannon— and not poaehed —whose 
average weights run from 401b. to 501b. Some 
were sent to the Dublin market, som-i to Billings¬ 
gate, and some sold here.”—A'ours truly, 
Limerick, May 18, 1893. Flavin and Co. 
A USEFUL PLANT WANTED. 
My Dear Sir, —Afriend and client of minehas 
three lochs in Scotland which he has stocked 
with Loch Leven trout, and which have done 
exceedingly well. 
Oddly enough, however, the trout, which run 
rather above the average size, scarcely ever rise 
at a fly, and can only be caught with a worm. 
The banks of the loch are rather bare, and I 
believe the reason of the trout’s shyness is that 
there is seldom any rise of flies on the loch at all. 
1 heard some time ago of a plant, which planted 
round the margin of the loch would attract flies 
to the neighbourhood. 
I should deem it a personal favour if you 
could tell me the name of this plant, and where 
I can obtain further information about it.—I am, 
sir, yours faithfully, John M. Mitchell. 
London. 
[We should much like to get some information 
about that plant. We never hoard of it.— Ed.] 
“WICKHAM’S FANCY” ON SCOTCH 
RIVERS. 
Dear Sir, —With reference to the article on 
“ Angling in Scotland ” in your last number, I 
notice your correspondent has not included the 
“Wickham’s Fancy ” in his list of flies; may I 
then call attention to the success I have had 
fishing with this fly during the last three weeks. 
Fishing on the Cowie, Carron, and Bervie 
Waters, streams about sixteen or twenty miles 
south of Aberdeen, I killed 190 trout in four 
and a half days ; of these, 127 were killed on the 
Wickham, 61 on the male March Brown, and two 
on the Red Palmer. Friends to whom I gave the 
fly, report it as deadly on Tweed, Tyne at 
Haddington, Ayr Water, and the Doon; and at 
home, on some reservoirs near Burnley, which 
have been stocked with trout, I have found it kill 
seven out of every ten. It seems equally killing 
for Loch Leven, brown, or sea-trout. 
I alwavs thought it was a July evening fly like 
the “ Silver Sedge,” but on comparing a wet 
Wickham with a live female cowdung, found 
them strikingly similar; and we have many of 
that fly round the reservoirs. 
Enclosed is the dressing I used.—Yours 
sincerely, W. Crou.mbie Brown. 
Tue Royal Infirmary, Manchester. 
[Wickham’s F-mcy is one of the best fancy 
trout flies we have. Dressed pretty large it kills 
well when the sedge is on, also is an excellent sea- 
trout fly.— Ed.] __ 
FISHING AT AIX-LES-BAINS. 
Sir. —I am about to spend a few weeks at Aix- 
les-Bains, and should like to know if there is any 
fly-fishing to be obtained in the neighbourhood. 
Perhaps some of your readers could give me the 
necessary information?—I am, yours truly. 
May 25, 1893. _ J- W. 
SALMON CRIMPING. 
Sir, —Your correspondent in last week’s Gazette 
on crimping salmon may be very good, but I 
should advise all who wish to crimp fish, of what¬ 
ever kind, to keep any steel out of the flesh. 
When all the blood has been taken from the fish, 
take out the entrails, gills, and eyes, then with 
a table knife scrape from tail to head, in a bucket 
of clean cold water, all the scales off possible; 
this, when hung up to a hook at the top of the 
ceiling, will allow of all the water to drain from 
it. It will eat the sweetest, and also keep good 
three times longer than any other way. 
S. M. Patrick 
5, North-street, Scarboro’, May 24, 
BRITISH SEA ANGLERS’ SOCIETAL 
Sir, —I shall be glad it two or three of your 
correspondents who are members of the British 
Sea Anglers’ Society will communicate with me 
with the view of making mutual arrangements 
for periodical visits to the south coast for sea¬ 
fishing.—Yours, &c., A. CoLLiNGWOOD Lee. 
Waltham Abbey, Essex. 
AROAS PLATE. 
Dear Sir, —I have lately observed in < 'hamhera' 
Journal a notice of “ Areas ” (plate), which seems 
so superior in effect by continual brightness to 
our present silver tinsel for fishing purposes that 
I wish to know where it can be obtained, and 
whether any of your numerous readers have 
tried it on flies, &c.—A'ours faithfully, 
J. T. J. 
FISHING NEAR CROMER. 
Sir, —If you or any of your correspondents 
can give me any information about the fishing 
to be obtained at or near Cromer (Norfolk), you 
will greatly oblige.—Yours faithfully, 
47, West Hill, Sydenham. Seagull. 
Is the sea fisUing good P 
FISHING NEAR BEXLEY. KENT. 
Dear Sir, —I should be much obliged if you or 
any of my fellow-readers could give me full par¬ 
ticulars as to any fishing, trout or coarse, to be 
had near Bexley, Kent; how and where permis¬ 
sion, if necessary, can be procured. I have heard 
that some good trout can be got at Farningham, 
but know nothing further about it. Names of 
best flies would be also acceptable.—Yours truly, 
E. M. 
FISHING WITHOUT A LICENCE. 
Sir, —All good anglers should feel a pleasure 
in bringing under your notice matters of interest 
to one and all, therefore I send you a report of a 
case of considerable importance which was decided 
by the magistrates here last week. 
For a long time past a number of men have 
been fishing on the Drowse river near Bundoran 
with shrimps or prawns in defiance of the water 
bailiffs, impudently alleging that they were not 
fishing for salmon but for brown trout. 
“Ballyshannon Petty Sessions. — At these 
sessions, before Messrs. T. Hamilton, R.M., chair¬ 
man, Mr. R. A. Hamilton, local fishing inspector, 
prosecuted Denis M’Gowan for fishing for salmon 
without a licence. Mr. Stubbs appeared for the 
complainant, and said he proceeded under the 
17th sect, of 32 & 33 AAct. c. 92. Richard 
Deacon was examined, and produced a rod of 
some 19ft. in length, which he slated was the 
engine employed. He saw the defendant on the 
7th inst. fishing with a rod and line, having on a 
salmon hook and a shrimp, which is deadly bait 
for salmon. Witness saw the shrimp dropping 
into the water. He had no licence. Defendant 
further obstructed him by preventing him from 
seeing the bait. Mr. Stubbs considered this was 
sufficierit proof. The Chairman: “ Read the section 
you proceed under.” Mr. Stubbs then read the 
section which entailed the same penalty as 12, 
13, and 14 Viet. c. 88, and enforced a penalty of 
not less than £2 or more than £3. In answer to 
the Bench the defendant maintained he was only 
trout fishing. After consultation their worships 
fined defendant in £2. In the case of obstruc¬ 
tion of Deacon, the water-keeper, after hearing 
the evidence the chairman thought a caution in- 
Wming defendant of his liability to a fine of £10 
might be sufficient under the circumstances. The 
case was, therefore, marked withdrawn.” 
This decision will put a stop to the practice of 
fishing on this river with shrimps or prawns 
without having taken out a salmon licence. 
Innis-Owen. 
Introduction of Salmon into Orkney. —An 
experiment is presently being made to introduce 
salmon fry into Orkney. It is to be tried in 
Hillside Burn, which leads into Loch Hundland, 
Birsay. The fry arrived per mail boat on Thurs¬ 
day last to the order of Mr. Gold, chamberlain 
for the Earl of Zetland. As there are no salmon 
[ in Orkney it is hoped the experiment may 
succeed. 
